This training was developed by the North Carolina Disaster Response Network and produced by the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Updated 10/22/2008
Overview of the NC Disaster Response Network Training
Goal: To increase the number of trained mental health professionals available to respond to disasters in North Carolina.
Overall training objectives:
- Describe the critical aspects of disasters
- Identify the physiological, emotional, cognitive and spiritual reactions to a disaster
- Discuss the basic concepts of disaster mental health intervention, psychological first aid, and resiliency promotion
- Understand the self-care and ethical responsibilities involved in mental health intervention in a disaster
- Be knowledgeable about the NC DRN and other response agencies, as well as how to be activated during a disaster
- Demonstrate skills to respond to bio-psycho-social consequences of disasters
Training delivery strategies:
This program replaces the 6-hour in-person training that has been offered by the NC DRN since 1995. This program employs 2 strategies:
Part 1 – online learning (available to anyone)
Part 2 – live simulation workshop (for North Carolina licensed mental health professionals only)
Eight web-based training modules introduce the field of disaster mental health. Each module is approximately 30 minutes in duration. NC DRN volunteer instructors developed the presentations and serve as the narrators. You will see the presentation slides, hear the narration, and can access a printable version of the slides and narration. Each module also has a quiz.
We recommend going through the modules in this order:
1 – Introduction to the DRN and Training
2 – Types and Phases of Disasters
3 – Bio-Psycho-Social Responses to Disasters
4 – Mental Health Interventions in Disasters
5 – Resiliency in Disasters
6 – Self-Care for Disaster Responders
7 – Ethical Issues in Disaster Response
8 – Activation for Disasters
For North Carolina Licensed mental health professionals wishing to receive continuing education credit for this training, pre- and post-tests will be administered and a passing score of 80 on each post-test is needed before being able to take Part 2 of the training. Click here for more information.
For all others, there are no fees charged to access these modules and continuing education credit can be requested after completing the quiz and evaluation which follows each module.
Part 2 – skill-building workshop:
(for NC licensed mental health professionals only)
Following completion of the 8 online modules, licensed mental health professionals in North Carolina will be invited to participate in a 2-hour live simulation workshop offered in locations around the state. The fee for participation in this workshop is $60.00 and will qualify licensed mental health professionals in North Carolina to receive 6 hours of continuing education credit.
The workshop, with real life scenarios and role plays, focuses on applying disaster intervention skills. This brief in-person workshop is appropriate for mental health professionals who have no disaster experience as well as those with extensive experience. Volunteer members of the NC DRN facilitate these workshops.
Contact the NC DRN regarding the workshop schedule.
NOTE: For those who have completed the former NC DRN training and would like to take this new program to refresh their skills, simply register for the program.